A monk for over 60 years, animator of numerous conferences, and author of books on contemplative prayer, Father Girard has become a well known public figure. In 1981, to highlight the fifteenth centenary of the birth of St. Benedict, the monastery in Oka, Québec, decided to open its doors to welcome Christians desiring to deepen their interiority. Because of the popularity engendered by Father Girard's sessions, the latter was invited to put to pen the essential contents of his teaching. A first volume, 'Solitude Graciée', soon ensued (1981) and this was subsequently followed by the completion of 17 books and the holding of over 600 lectures! Father Girard is rightly regarded to be one of great spiritual figures of our time.

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Pr. ​David PERRIN, Ph.D., Theologian, St-Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario (Canada),​Guest lecturer in January 2016 ​on the Stages on the way to Fullness according to John of the Cross

David Perrin grew up in a family of seven children on a small farm in Petawawa, not far from Ottawa, Canada. Never “far from the earth” he brings a love of “nurturing the soul” through the everyday experiences of life in whatever he undertakes. He is former Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada and is Past-President of the international Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. He has served as Chair of the Mysticism Group of the American Academy of Religion and is a former President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Jerome’s University, Waterloo, Canada where he currently teaches as a Professor in the Department of Religious Studies. Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, he has a keen interest in conducting workshops and retreats on a range of popular topics for people of all faith backgrounds or no-faith background at all. Publications include five books as well as popular and scholarly articles on mysticism, asceticism, spiritual direction, Christian spirituality, and related topics. Books titles include For Love of the World: The Old and New Self of John of the Cross (1997), The Sacrament of Reconciliation: An Existential Approach (1998) and an edited volume Women Christian Mystics Speak to Our Times (2001). His latest book is Studying Christian Spirituality (2007).

Eric was born in Paris in 1960. He began meditating in 1978 under the direction of zen master Taisen Deshimaru from whom he received the buddhist precepts. This led to a lay ordination in 1979 and a monastic ordination in 1981. Following Taisen Deshimaru's death in 1982, Eric continued his Zen apprenticeship under master Ryôtan Tokuda, former missionary from the Zen Soto school for South America and Europe. In October 2001, in Tokyo, the former recieved the transmission of the dharma from Gudô Nishijima, translator and commentator of works produced by zen master Dôgen. In 1999, Eric founded the Un Zen Occidental association. He has also published several works as: Le bouddhisme engagé (Seuil, 2013), Se soucier du monde (Almora, 2014), Le kesa conforme au dharma (Les Nuages blancs, 2014), S'asseoir tout simplement (Seuil, 2015).